Levels

With a good mix of inside/outside, high and low, this is an especially good map for Slayer battles. Use the warp points to travel up to the crisscrossing walkways above, and risk the open, snowy areas to score Fuel Rod Guns. There are some Warthogs here as well, and they're mounted with rockets, so be prepared for heavy combat from the get-go.

Death Island

"Sand, Surf and Spent Shells"4-16 PlayersSupports Vehicles

The Scorpions and Warthogs on the beach make for some rollicking destruction, and the spread-out nature of the level screams for CTF action. Get in the Hogs and troll down the beach, and have teammates man the Scorp for backup. Storming an enemy base is a lot more fun when you've got rolling thunder.

Danger Canyon

"Don't Look Down&#133; Unless You Fall"4-16 PlayersSupports Vehicles

Great for many different game types, Danger Canyon features a strung-out map with on-land and in-the-air possibilities. The indoor areas make for tight quarters and plenty of raucous firefights, while the bridges that cross each end of the canyon afford for quality sniping. On the ground, Warthog/Ghost battles are a blast.

Infinity

"I Imagined it Would Be Bigger"4-16 PlayersSupports Vehicles

Much like Danger Canyon, this level features a lot of multi-level killing. Transport up to the lofty bridges that stretch across the canyon, then climb the loooong ladders to mounted turrets. Or visit the large central tower and scale the angled ramps to score a Banshee&#133; then go get those pesky campers. There's almost nowhere to hide in this map.

Timberland

"An Enemy Behind Every Tree"4-16 PlayersSupports Vehicles

As the subhead suggests, this level affords plenty of cover, which is perfect for Slayer matches. Although Warthogs are available here, they're hard to pilot through the rocky fields, so make sure you're a driving master, or you'll be a sitting duck. Grab Flamethrowers in the bases, then take them to war in the dotted plains.

Gephyrophobia

"Scary, huh?"2-12 PlayersSupports vehicles

Multilevel craziness. This one's a mad scramble for the rocket launchers and stationary turrets, as long-range, powerful weapons are the main menu item. Stay on the main platform and try to pick off fools on the ledges that line the canyon, or vice versa. Be sure to grab the Overshield near the main platform turret either way.

Rat Race"Up the Ramps, Down the Tubes"2-6 PlayersSimple corridor match with an overhead cavern that allows you to get from one end to the other, one particular corner with two shield stands where you can properly camp in the public eye. Look for the shotgun and the overshield at the end of one of the overhead caverns, the Halo equivalent of Quad damage. A couple of portals keep this from just being a running game. Make sure to sneak up behind your opponent with a shotgun for a good one-shot kill. A good map overall for small groups, especially two players.

Prisoner"Get on Top"2-8 PlayersIt's built like a multi-story mall, and there's plenty of space for grenade tossing, especially if you're on top. Risk the bottom level for the active camouflage (aka invisibility) in the center of the map. Remember, you can actually leap most of the platform gaps on the higher levels, so don't think you're stuck walking around the edges. Not really recommended for two players -- we'd recommend at least four for this one, as it's too easy to play chicken in the interior of the buildings.

Hang 'Em High"Tombstones for Everybody"4-16 PlayersThis one's got a little bit of everything -- a maze of pylons to run around in, a shotgun to blow people to smithereens in, and some nice high ledges to snipe from. It's wide and open, so if you don't have enough players, you may be a little bored -- unless you're a marksman, of course. Play it on Snipers mode for some real fun fun fun. Definitely more fun as a Capture the Flag map than anything else.

Chill Out"Dude, you really need to..."2-8 PlayersOne of the best maps for small group battles, especially if you've only got two players. There's a good variety of weapons (even a Sniper rifle), and lots of twisty corners to turn. If you're not familiar with multi combat, this is a non-threatening, intimate map to get you started.

Derelict"Deep-Space Anomaly #0198"4-8 PlayersI'm not a huge fan of the open courtyard type maps, which is what this one is. If you're a good Sniper this can be some fun. This level works best if you're playing a game like King, where you've got to control a point. With little room to camp, this one's a tough battle.

Boarding Action"Ship-to-Ship Combat"4-16 PlayersAnother one for rocket fanatics and snipers. You've got two ships split open like apartment complexes, and all sorts of long range weapons to use on one another. If you're a rocket arena fan, you'll like the strategy in this one, but close combat fans will be bored. Definitely more exciting in concept than execution, unless you're a long-range fanatic.

Blood Gulch"The Quick and the Dead"4-16 PlayersA fantastic map that is just screaming for you to play it in Capture The Flag. You've got your bases. Made for huge numbers, but even smaller groups can get into it because of the open fields of play, and nice selection of vehicles and weapons to play with. Try it out in Team Rally mode, where you're racing to get to checkpoints, for some jeep racing fun. Get a good gunner on the back of your jeep, and you're golden.

Wizard"Round and Round and Round"2-8 PlayersNot being a fan of courtyard battles, this one tended to bore me, at least in two player games. There's a limited selection of weapons, and generally little to do other than shoot blindly. Things get more fun when someone grabs the Active Camouflage, though. Another one that's good for beginners, since it's really, really straightforward.

Chiron TL34"Spartan Clone Training Complex"2-6 PlayersAn insanely claustrophobic corridor battle with little variety in weaponry, and one well-placed packet o' instant Active Camo. Tons of little evil slits in the scenery for you to fire through, a myriad of portal points, and some nasty little hiding spots make this a vicious game for campers and close-combat freaks alike. If you can keep from getting lost, this is a fun, fast-paced CTF game for tiny groups.

Longest"A long walk down a short hall..."2-8 PlayersThis level's skinnier than the casting call for Ally McBeal. There's not much room to move, so you'll have to know this level inside and out, and most important, find that shotgun! Get a perch and get it quick. Sort of insane for any team games, which is actually the best part, if you've got some fragging experience and want a close combat challenge. Weird and fun.

Battle Creek"Splash Splash, Bang Bang"2-8 PlayersIf you're looking for a way to show off the beauty of the game in multi, this and Sidewinder are the levels to use. It's a really natural landscape, complete with a river, and two conveniently located fortresses on either side. This is a traditional CTF map, complete with some Sniper locations and a maze-like fortress to keep your sacred flag well-protected. Use the trees to keep you covered, as well as all your Quake-honed CTF techniques, and you'll be fine.

Sidewinder"Red Blood, White Snow"4-16 PlayersOne huge ice field and two fortresses make for some heavy combat. This one's good with four players, but you'll find that it ends up being a corridor battle in the "hidden" walkways that lead through the mountain to each base. Get over eight players involved though, and throw in some Scorpion tanks, and you've got yourself a war. Multiple snipe locations, a variety of attack points for the bases, and some cool crisp snow make this a fun one for game parties.

Damnation"Covenant Hydro-Processing Center"4-8 PlayersDamnation, AKA "extra-cool bump-mapped level galore", takes the most practice of any of the levels. It's a little odd in the way it's laid out, and you've got to have your long and short range skills together if you think you're going to survive this one. CTF is extra-fun given the "walk of death," a long walkway with deadly gaps in clear view of a conveniently-located ledge full of sniper rifles. If you're not comfortable doing quick jump-turn maneuvers in odd directions, you better practice on some other maps first.